Machine for branding crown-corks.



No. "768,647. 7 PATENT ED AUG. 30, 1904.

- EQH. BAARE.

' MACHINE FOR BRANDING GROWN GORKS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, 1903. N0 MODEL.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' W/TNESSES: 4 v nvvavrom V I v V 3y No. 768,647. J PATENTED AUG. 30,1904.

E. H. BAARE. MACHINE FOR BRANDING GROWN 00mm.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 16, 1903-. N0 MODEL.

7 SHEETSr-SHEET 2.

PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904 APPLICATION ITILED OUT 16, 1903.

7 SHEETS-BHEBT 3.

N0 MODEL.

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W/ TNESSES:

E. H. BAARE.

MACHINE FOR BRANDING GROWN GORKS.

APPLIOATION FILED OCT-16, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES:

No. 768,647. PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Z; N VE N 70/?" PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904.

E. H. BAARE. MACHINE FOR BRANDING GROWN GORKS.

APPLICATION FILED 0011.16, 1903.

Mums-sum 5.

N0 MODEL.

INVENTOH:

WITNESSES.-

PATENTED AUG. 80, 1904.

E; H. BAARB. MACHINE FOR BRANDING GROWN OORKS.

APPLICATION FILED OOT.16, 1903.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6 N0 MODEL.

IN VENTOH: 20

W/ TNE SSE 5':

No. 768,647. PATENTED AUG 30, 190 E. H. BAARE. MACHINE FORBRANDING GROWNUOR KS.

APPLIUATION FILED 01JT.16' 1903. a N0 MODEL. 7 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH:

tially shown in section- UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT, OFFICE.

EDWIN H. BAARE, OF ST. LOUIS., MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR E.

POSS,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MACHINE FOR BRANDING CROWN-CORKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 768,647, dated August30, 1904;. Application filed October 16,1903. Serial No. 177,232. (Nomodel.)

T all whom, it may concern:

Be it known thatI, EDWIN H. BAARE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Machines for BrandingOrownOorks,-of which the following is a specification.

This invention is of a machine especially designed, arranged, andconstructed for the purpose of branding crown-corks.

Machines for branding theold style elongated cylindrical corks in orderto show the date of bottling are in use; but heretofore crown-corks havenot been branded because of the lack of suitable machinery for thatpurpose.

In the drawings, in which like numbers of reference denote like partswherever they occur, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my machine withthe extreme upper and lower portions thereof broken away. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of the parts of my machine resting on the table thereof,with the cork-chute par- Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the extremeupper portion of the machine, showing same in its relation to the tableand attached parts, being on a reduced scale as compared with F1gs. 1and 2. Fig. L is a side elevation analogous to Fig. 3. Fig.

5 is a front view of the cork-chute with the front plate or wallremoved. Fig. 6 is an interior view of the hopper, showing thecorrugated roller, the feed-plate, &c. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectivelybottom and side views of the article to be brandednamely, acrowncork.Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the branding-iron and connected parts. Fig.10 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 11 isan end view of the branding-iron. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of theextreme upper portion of the plate forming the back of the cork-chute,showing teeth that receive and the teeth that separate the corks fortransmission down the several divisions of the chute. Fig.

, 13 is a cross-sectional view on the line 13 13,

Fig. 12. Fig. 14:, is a sectional view of the rear plate of thecork-chute, taken on the line 14 14, Figs. 5 and 12, with the corksremoved. Fig. 15 is a detail view of the cor- 'is a sectional view ofthe same on the line 16 16, Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is adetailvie'w of thefeeding-plate in the hopper. Fig. 18is a cross-sectional view of thesame on the line 18 18, Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is an exterior detail view ofthe hopper. Fig. 20 is a sectional view of the hopper on the line 20 20,Fig. 21. Fig. 21 is a rear elevation of the hopper. Fig. 22 is a detailin front elevation of the feed-plate, the roller in the hopper. and theback of the top portion of the cork-chute; and Fig. 23 shows a detail ofsaid parts, partly in section and partly in side elevation.

1v is a table or frame supported by a plurality of legs 2 and having thestandards 3, 4, 5, and 6 projecting thereabove. The standards orpillow-blocks 3 and 4. support the shaft 7, and the caps 8 are securedto said pillowblocks by the set-screws 9. The shaft 7 has mounted uponit the small grooved wheel 10 and the similar large wheel 11, power toactuate the entire mechanism being received on wheel 11 from belt 12 andcommunicated, by means of wheel 10 and belt 13, to the shaft 14, onwhich the corrugated roller 15 in the hopper 16 is mounted, said hopperbeing supported above the table 1 by a vertical post or.

plate 17, which is grooved at 18 in its forward face to form, inconjunction with the removable plate 19, which forms a facing or frontcovering for said groove 18, a chute from the hopper 16, by which means,as will be hereinafter described more in detail, the crown-corks to bebranded are presented in continuous succession at the base of the groove18 opposite the branding-iron 20. The hopper 16 is approximately of theform indicated in Figs. 6, 19, and 20," having Within it a feeding-plate21, formed with aflange 22, by means of which same is attached to theinside of the walls 23 of the hopper 16 by the screws or rivets 24:,said feed-plate 21 being so arranged within the hopper with relation tothe forward wall 25 of the hopper, which is inclined in an obliquedirection, as to form a space substantially V-shaped in vertical sec--tion, into which the crown-corks to be branded are fed, 1t bemgunnecessary to exercise the slightest care or discrimination in themanner of feeding said crown-corks, as the arrangement of the openingfrom the hopper and therevolution of the corrugated roller rectify theposition of each and every one of the crown corks after they have passedinto the said \/shaped space in the hopper or hopper proper before samepasses downwardly into I the cork-chute. In the space between thefeed-plate 21 and the rear wall 26' of the hop per is located the shaft14, journaled at 27 in the side walls 23 of the hopper. Mounted uponsaid shaft or formed integral therewith is the roller 15, having thecircumferential grooved or corrugated ribs 28, the grooves 29, formingthe corrugations therein, running in a direction substantiallylongitudinal with said roller. The channels 30 between said ribs 28 areeach provided with the pin 31, the uses of which will now be explained.The arrangement of the hopper, as hereinbefore described, is with theobject of causing all the crown-corks to drop down the cork-chute withthe inside or cork side facing to the front of the machine in order thatwhen they reach their lowest limit in the groove 18 the cork disk 32 mayface the branding-iron 20 instead of the tin back 33, the cork diskbeing held within the metal flange 34. hen the crown-corks are throwninto the V-shaped portion of the hopper, as shown in Fig. 6, they areturned in both directions, part of them facing to the front and part tothe rear. The roller 15 being rotated, the corrugations of the ribs 28on said roller agitate the corks that touch the same and in this waytend to rectify their position, casting them off from the roller againand again as often as they try to pass through the opening into thecork-chute. This operation of the corrugations on the roller 15necessarily throws some of the crown-corks into the channels 30,circumferentially formed in said roller, and if and when a crown-corkfalls intosuch channel in the wrong position the pin 31 in theparticular channel in which said cork happens to be when the rollerrevolves into proper position strikes the inside of the upper portion ofthe flange 34 of the crowncork, which makes it turn a somersault andfaces it to the front, with the result that it feeds with the cork disk32 thereof in position to receive the impact of the brandingiron 20.\Vhen said crown-cork has reached its lowest position at the foot of thegroove 18, forming the end of the cork-chute, said crown-cork in saidlowest position rests in the hollow or groove 36 in the shoe 37. whichis attached, by means of the screw 38, to the post or plate 17 in such aposition as to touch the table 1. Immediately above and partiallyopposite said shoe 37 is the opening 39, normally closed by the weightedtrap-door 40, which is pivoted at 41 to the Web 42 of the post or plate17, the groove 18 being formed between said web and the web 43 on theop- 1 in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 5,) through which the plunger-pin45 reciprocates to push out each successive crown-cork immediately afterit has been branded while resting in the position of the cork numbered46 in Fig. 5, the cork numbered 47 being in said figure illustrated asjust having been dislodged from the position occupied by cork 46 by theimpact of the plunger-pin 45, which pressed said cork 47 against theWeighted trap-door 40, causing it to rise and leave the opening 39 freefor the exit of the cork 47, the weight of the trap-door 4O tendingimmediately to close same after the exit of each successive brandedcrown-cork, said branded crown-corks being caught by the hood 48immediately upon their exit from the opening 39, said hood 48 beingprovided with the flange 49, by means of which and the screws 50 it isattached to the table 1, and said hood 48 surrounding an opening 51 inthe table 1, through which the corks successively drop into a receptacleplaced underneath said table. The manner of imparting motion to theplunger-pin 45 will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The cork-chute in its lower portion consists of the single groove 18,formed between the webs 42 and 43 of the plate 17, same being covered orfaced in order to retain the corks by the plate-19, which has aplurality of openings 52 therein. At the upper portion said plate 17 isformed with a plurality of passages or grooves 53, 54, 55, &c., the web42 being continued upward and forming the wall of.

one of said passages 53. there being formed on the other side of thepassage 53 a relatively short web 56, between which and thepartly-straight and partly-curved web 57 lies the groove or passage 54,and the groove or passage 55 being formed between said web 57 and theoutside curved web 58. This arrangement produces the result indicated inFig. 5, where the crown-corks to be branded are shown in the severalgrooves or passages of the cork-chute, the main line of corks going downthe groove 18, but an auxiliary supply being ready at hand in thepassages 54 and 55 to fill in any interstices or intermissions in thesupply of crown-corks in groove 18. The plate 19 is enlarged in itsupper portion, as plainly depicted in Fig. 3, in order to cover all ofthe passages 53, 54, 55, &c., and is attached to the plate or post 17 bythe screws The upper portion of the post or plate 17 is formed in thepeculiar shape shown in Fig. 12, with long teeth 60, which are oppositethe corrugated ribs 28 of the roller 15. The shorter bifurcated teeth 61are opposite ream the channels 30 of the roller 15 and are also oppositethe teeth 62, somewhat similarly shaped. formed upon the feed-plate 21,the teeth 62 fitting down approximately close to the roller 15 withinthe channels 30. The teeth stand somewhat forward of the teeth 61, andthe latter are relatively closer to the roller 15, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 13. Both sets of teeth 60 and 61 are also beveled at62 on their forward surfaces, thus bringing them to a point. Thefeed-plate 21 is shown upside down in Figs. 17 and 18.

The arrangement of the several parts just described effects the regular,even, I successive, and satisfactory delivery of aline of crown-corksfrom the hopper to the point opposite the branding-iron, as hereinbeforedescribed. V

I shall now proceed to describe the branding-iron and the operationthereof.

The standards 5-and 6 are slotted or otherwise arranged for thereciprocation in connection therewith or therethrough of the plunger 63.bearing the cylinder 64, containing the air-chamber 65, gas-chamber 66,a tube 67-, which communicates with both said gaschamber and saidair-chamber, the burnerhead 68, having an opening 69 therethrough, andthe combustion-box 70, having the openings 71 in its two side walls andtop and a solid bottom wall and having afiixed to its outer end, bymeans of the bolts 72, passing through the plate 73 and received intothe lugs 74, the branding-iron 20, having the beveled portion 75,leading down to the embossed plate or portion 76. Airis admitted intothe chamber throughthe tube 77, the admission being controlled by thecock 78, said tube being provided with a screw-threaded end (not shown)cooperating withscrewrthread-s (not shown) in the opening 79. Gasisadmitted into the chamber 66 through the pipe 80, which is controlled bythe cook 81, being attached by screw-threading in the opening 82 in thesame manner as tube 77. Air under pressure having been admitted intochamber 65, it passes through the small opening in the slender tube 67until it reaches a point adjacent to the opening 69 in the burner 68.Gas under pressure having been similarlyadmitted into chamber 66, theair and the gas mix'at a point immediately adjacent to the opening 69,from which the flame issues and fills the combustion-box and cavity 83in the brandingiron, maintaining in this manner when lighted a steadyand reliable heat in the brandingiron 20. The bu rner-head 68 isscrew-threaded at 84- and coiiperates with similar screwthreads on theinside of the red ucedportion 85-of the cylinder 64.

The cylinder 64 has an interior wallor diaphragm 86, which separates thechambers 65 and 66, and the combustion-box 7 O, which terminates in thecylindrical portion 87, is removable from the end of said cylinder 64,be'

ing ordinarily held in place thereon by the set-screw 88. The cylinder64 is in like manner removable from the reduced portion 89 of the'plunger 63, on which it is normally held by the set-screw 90. Thus thebranding-iron 20 may be removed from the combus-- tion-box, as it ismerely attached thereto by the bolts72. The combustion-box, with itsconnected cylindrical portion 87, may be removed from the cylinder 64 byunscrewing the set-screw 88, and the cylinder 64 may be released fromthe reduced solid portion 89 ofthe plunger 63 by loosening theset-screw: 90. As the plunger 63, cylinder 64, box 70, and branding-iron20 are adapted and intended to reciprocate together in order toaccomplish successive operations of branding, it is ob-. vious that thepipes 77 and 80 are preferably in the form of 'fieXi-ble tubes, althoughrigid pipes can be employed if arranged ,with suit: able extensions atright angles to the'pipes or tubes shown in the drawings, saidextensions being provided with sleeve-couplings, supplyreservoirs, orother means allowing for reciprocation. The plunger 63, with the partscarriedthereby, including the branding-iron20, is reciprocated' by meansof the shaft 7 in the following manner: The plunger 63 has the-pinor arm91 extending therefrom, by which it isconnected to the bifurcatedslidingly-adjustable pitman 92. The pitman 92 has a ring or strap 93 atits end which encircles the outer end of the pin 91, said pin 91 havinga perforation through that part ofitsend beyond said strap 93 throughwhich asplit pin 94 passes to retain said strap 93in position, sameabutting against a shoulder 94. (Indicated but not depicted in thedrawings.) The pitman 92 is, asbefore stated, divided into twoparts,.the one nearer the plunger 63 being formed with'a reduced portionor stem 95, carried on-its end, which stem 95 fits into and reciprocatesin the hollow cylindrical por: tion 96, forming the other half of thepitman. The stem 95 has formed upon it or fastened through it the pin97, which abuts against the spring 98, located'within the hollowcylindrical portion 96 between the endof said stem 95 and theinternalend of the hollow portion of said hollow cylinder 96. Said hollowcylindrical portion-96has formedgupon one of its ends a ring or strap99, which encircles the pin 100, formed eccentrically upon the end ofthe shaft 7, being fastened thereupon by the screw 101. With therotation of the shaft the eccentric-pin 100 actuates the pit-v man 92,which through the intermediation of the plunger 63 reciprocates thebranding-iron 20 so as alternately to make impact upon thecork'represented' by cork 46 in Fig. 5 and again to be withdrawn fromsuch impact while the plunger-pin 45, acting in alterna tion -to thebranding-iron 20, pushes the branded crown-cork46 off the shoe 37-intothe-pom in sition indicated by crown-cork 47, while the l line of corksin groove 18 each move one place lower, the pitman 92 being madeadjustable in the manner hereinbefore described, its rigidity as well asflexibility being both promoted by the spring 102, which encircles itand abuts against pin 13 i and 135 and nicely adjusts the stroke of theplunger 63, so that the branding-iron20 will make a proper impact uponthe cork disk 32 of the crown-cork 46 in such a way as to allow for thedifference in thickness of individual crown-corks.

The plunger-pin 45 is connected by the link 103 to the end 1 of thepivoted arm 105, which is pivoted to the standard 106 by the set-screw107 and rests at its other end 108 upon the support 109, which end 108is beveled at 110, so as to engage and ride upon the cam 111, which isformed or mounted on the shaft 7 at a point approximately opposite tothe location of the eccentric 100, whereby the plunger-pin is moved intoengagement with the cork 46 at a point of time after the branding-ironhas been withdrawn from contact therewith by the actuation of theplunger 63, pitman 92, and connected parts by the eccentric 100. Theplunger-pin 4:5 is normally withdrawn from protrusion into the groove 18by the retractile spring 112, fastened to the arm 105 by the screw 113and to the table 1 by the screw 114. A stop 115 is adjustably attachedto the table 1 by means of the slotted plate 116 and the screw or screws117. The stop 115 is surrounded by a buffer 118, of rubber or other softor noise-deadening substance, against which the end 10 1 of' the arm 105strikes when drawn back by the spring 112. The standard 119, having anopening therethrough, (not shown.) acts as a guide or cross-head toinsure the direct and effective reciprocation and action of theplunger-pin 45, as will readily be understood.

The operation of the machine can be started by the handle of the rod120, secured by the plates 121 to the table 1 and connected with thewheel 122, which has on its side next to said table a hollow cylindricalportion or cap 123, having the notches 124C in its periphery, whichnotches cooperate with the notches 125, similarly formed on a hollowcylindrical portion formed on or engaging with the wheel 11, both ofsaid notched portions encircling the shaft 7. By means of said notches124i and 125 when the rod 120 is so drawn to the right as to make saidnotches engage each otherthe power applied by the belt 12 to the wheelor pulley 11 is imparted to the shaft 7 by reason of the fact that thenotched portion 123 is formed integral with the shaft 7 or rigidlyattached thereto. At the same time as wheel 10 is in fixed connectionwith the shaft 7 it is rotated, and thus actuates belt 13, which sets inmotion shaft 14:, carrying the corrugated roller 15, the eccentric 100and the earn 111, being borne also upon said shaft 7, and thus actuatedthereby, beginning also to exercise their functions, whereby thebranding-iron 20 and plunger-pin act alternately, as hereinbeforedescribed.

In the drawings I have shown an air-tank 126 and an air-pump 127, whichis connected with the pipe or tube 77, although any other suitablesource of compressed air and gas can be utilized; but, as illustrated inthe drawings, (see Fig. 1,) said air-pump 127 is connected by the link129 and pin 130 to the end of the piston rod 131, and the gas isintroduced through pipe 80.

The slot 136 in the rear wall 26 of the hopper 16 is provided, by way ofprecaution, to allow external assistance in case of one of thecrown-corks in some manner becoming jammed underneath the roller 15.

A groove 137 is provided in the end of the shaft 7 in order to allow forthe adjustment of the pin 100 at a greater or less degree of eccentricrelation to the center of the shaft 7, whereby the length and characterof stroke of the pitman 92 may be affected.

It is obvious that many minor changes may be made in the form,arrangement, and details of the several parts of my said machine withoutdeparting from the nature and spirit of my said invention.

hat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cork-branding machine, the combination of an arm suitablyactuated to eject the corks from the branding position, a spring toreturn said arm to its first position, a stop padded with rubber orsimilar material to deaden the noise of the return of said arm to itsfirst position, substantially as described.

2. In a cork-branding machine, the combination of a shaft, means foractuating same, a cam thereupon, a pivotally-swinging arm supported by arest adjacent to said cam, a plunger-ejector operated by said arm andconnected thereto by a link, a spring, and an adjustable stop,substantially asdescribed.

3. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute with a reciprocatingbranding means and a reciprocating ejecting means movably relatedthereto, and means for actuating each of said means from a common drive.

4:. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute with a brandingmeans movable with relation thereto, means for ejecting the corks, and ashaft having devices thereon to actuate each of said means one inadvance of the other.

5. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute with a branding meansmovable in relation thereto, means for ejecting the corks, a shaft withdevices connected thereto and to each of said means for actuating thelatter one in advance of the other.

6. In a machine of the type set forth, acorkchute with a branding meansmovable in relation thereto, a cork-ejecting means, a pivotedspring-held arm carrying a link at its one end connected to saidejecting means, a shaftcarrying means for reciprocating said brandingmeans, and means for actuating the other end of said arm. a

7. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute, a branding means andan ejecting means operating in planes transverse to each other movablyrelated thereto, and means operated from a common drive forreciprocating said branding and ejecting means.

8. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute with branding andejecting means movable in relation thereto in planes transverse to eachother, a shaft, and means connected thereto and to-each of said meansfor operating the latter.

9. In a machine of the type set forth, acorkchute with branding andejecting means operating in planes transverse to each other, movablyrelated to the cork chute, a pivoted spring-held arm connected to theejecting means, a shaft carrying means for actuating said arm and foractuating said branding means. w

10. In a machine of the type set forth a corkchute with a hopper at theupper end thereof having a roller therein with corrugated ribs on theroller forming channels therebetween, the hopper having teeth, some ofwhich are bifurcated and are of greater length than the first-namedteeth engaged by said corrugated ribs, and a toothed plate located abovethe roller.

' l1. Inamachine of the type set forth, a corkchute having a hopper witha roller in the hopper, passages in the chute with corrugated ribs onthe roller located between said passages the hopper formed with teethoperating between the ribs and on the ribs, and a feed.- plate toothedand located above the hopperteeth. a

12. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute with ahopperthereon, and a channeled roller in the hopper, a toothed feed-plate1ocated above the roller in the hopper engaging the channels of theroller, the chute having its one side extended upward and toothed toengage said roller below the'point of engagement of the feed-plateteeth.

13. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute surmounted by ahopper having a chan-' neled roller therein, one side of the chute eX-tending into the hopper and having teeth engaging in each of thechannels of the roller, and said unchanneled portions of the roller.

14. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute surmounted by'ahopper having a'channeled roller therein, a toothed feed-plate above theroller engaging in each of the channels of the roller and teeth engagingthe unchanneled portions of the roller at a point below the feed-plateteeth.

15. In a machine'of the type set forth, a corkchute anda hopper havinga'channeled roller therein, teeth carried by the hopper and by the chutefor engaging in the channeled and unchanneled portions of the roller.

16. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute and a hopper with afeed-roller in the latter, a toothed feed-plate in the hopper engagingin the channels of the roller, and a' toothed extension of the chuteengaging the channels of the roller and also the unchanneled portionsthereof.

17. In a machine of the type set forth, a corkchute and a hopper havinga feed-roller therein, corrugated spaced ribs on the roller, a toothedplate engaging in the spaces between the ribs, anda toothed meansengaging in said spaces and engaging said ribs.

In testimony whereof I have affiXed my sig nature, in presence of twowitnesses, this 7th day of October, 1903.

7 EDWIN H. BAARE."

Witnesses:

GLADYs .WALTON,- MAUD E. LETCHER.

